April 2025
By: Josh Walejewski
Read Time: 2 Minutes

Spring has arrived in Wisconsin—flowers are blooming, birds are singing, and unfortunately, severe storms are also on the horizon. When the wind picks up and the rain starts pounding, most of us have experienced that telltale flicker before the power cuts out completely.

The next thing you know, you’re digging out that old noisy portable generator from storage, fumbling with extension cords, and crossing your fingers that it starts so you can power a few essentials.

Power Outages Don’t Need to Be a Chore

Now imagine a different scenario. A storm blows in, the lights flicker for a moment, and your power goes out. But within seconds, your entire house is running again. All without you lifting a finger. That’s the peace of mind and convenience a whole-home automatic standby generator delivers.

Most Common Cause of Power Outages in WI.

Wisconsin’s weather swings can be dramatic, and our power grid faces a variety of challenges. Before you dismiss the idea of automated back up power, it’s worth exploring why and how frequently outages happen in our state.

Between 2008 and 2017, these were the top causes of power outages in our area:

• 37%: Weather or falling trees
• 26%: Faulty equipment or human error
• 9%: Animal-related issues
• 5%: Planned maintenance
• 11%: Vehicle accidents
• 12%: Unknown causes

Wisconsin Power Outage Frequency is Increasing

Since 2020, WE Energies has logged eight separate outage events affecting 100,000+ customers each. During the prior 43 years (1977–2019), they only had six such massive events. In other words, the frequency of extremely large outages has spiked in the past few years.

In summer 2021, a severe thunderstorm system knocked out power to approx. 200,000 WE Energies customers in southeastern Wisconsin. Restoration took multiple days in some areas.

In a January storm (2023/2024) with heavy wet snow and wind, approximately 233,000 customers lost power, one of the largest winter outages on record for the region.

Rising Demand for Home Backup Generators

Across the country, more homeowners are investing in backup generators as a safeguard against unreliable power. The trend is clear: twenty years ago, only about 0.6% of U.S. homes had a standby generator system; today roughly 5–6% do.

In raw numbers, that’s 7 million American homes now equipped with permanently installed  automated generators. This number that has climbed steadily, but has spiked in the last few years. Mostly driven by the barrage of severe weather and aging infrastructure.

An Aging Power Grid

The grid is aging (over 70% of the U.S. electric grid is 25+ years old (U.S. standby generator demand pops in 2024)), and even the average U.S. household now faces around 5–6 hours without power per year.

In some regions it’s far worse. This has made backup power not just a luxury but a “necessity” in the eyes of many homeowners. This is especially true for older homeowners who rely on essential medical equipment to be powered indefinitely.

In a recent survey of 2,000 U.S. adults, 84% said they worry about power outages and 61% wish they had a reliable home backup power source. However, only about 15% currently have some form of backup power in place. This suggests there is a large gap between concern and action. (How Americans feel about home backup power and rising outages).

Top Reasons for Purchasing a Whole-home Generator Over a Portable Unit

The top motivations Americans cite for getting automatic backup power include:

1. Avoiding inconvenience (32% of respondents)
2. Protecting the health of those who rely on powered medical devices (23%)
3. Coping with natural disasters (21%)

How Outages Affect Residents (Costs and Risks)

Power outages can be more than just an inconvenience. This is especially true in Wisconsin where nearly 295,000 customers lose power each year on average. Power outages can lead to:

• Food Spoilage: Nationally, about 14% of households that experienced an outage in the past year reported losing food to spoilage. A fridge full of groceries can easily mean $100–$400 wasted if you’re without power for an extended time.
• Medical Concerns: Nation wide, about 1 in 3 households relying on electric-powered medical equipment experienced an outage in the past year. For seniors or those with oxygen machines, losing power can be life-threatening.
• Winter Hazards: In cold months, outages raise the risk of frozen pipes and home damage. Nationally, more than 670,000 homes a year face this issue during heating failures.
• Flooded Basements: Sump pumps can’t run without electricity, increasing the chance of costly water damage when storms hit.
• Financial Burden: Hotel stays and missing work all add up. According to surveys, around 8.4% of outage-affected households had to seek shelter elsewhere and almost 8% of working households who went through an outage had someone miss work.

Benefits of a Whole-Home Standby Generator

• Complete peace of mind
• Maintain comfort in any season
• Increased property and home value (by 3% to 5% according to consumer reports)
• Prevent freezing or bursting pipes
• Avoid lost productivity for those who work from home
• Protect those who depend on power for medical equipment
• Avoid flood damage by keeping your sump pump operational
• Keeps home security systems operational
• Preserve refrigerated and frozen items during extended outages
• Lower stress while vacationing or traveling

How a Whole-Home Standby Generator Works

Whole-home units monitor your power supply. When the power fails, they switch on within moments to keep your fridge, furnace, lights, and medical devices running—no manual setup required. Fueled by natural gas or propane, these systems operate quietly and prevent the hazards of refueling portable units in bad weather.

What Size Generator Is Right for You?

Determining the correct size depends on factors like the appliances you want to run during an outage, the size of your home, and your overall energy use. The team at Kettle Moraine Heating & Air Conditioning can help you choose and install a standby generator that’s perfectly matched to your household’s needs.

If you’re ready to make power outages a thing of the past, contact us at Kettle Moraine Heating & Air Conditioning. We’ll show you how effortless and reassuring an automatic standby generator can be.

Need help planning your home standby generator?

We’re here to guide you through every step, from selecting the right model to installation and maintenance. Reach out today for a free in-home consultation.

Read more blog posts from Kettle Moraine Heating & AC.

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About the Author
Josh Walejewski

Josh is a business professional who has worked in the HVAC industry since 2017. With a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences Degree (B.A.A.S) in marketing and sustainable business management from the University of Wisconsin, he has a passion for all aspects of HVAC, business, marketing, and environmental stewardship.